Barker



Nov. 14, 1961 1., B. HILBORN BARKER Filed April 15, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. '14, 1961 B. HILBORN BARKER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1959 Nov. 14, 1961 L. B. HILBORN BARKER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 15, 1959 Nov. 14, 1961 L. B. HILBYORN 3,008,503

BARKER Filed April 15, 1959 6 Shets-Sheet 5 Nov. 14, 1961 B. HILBORN 3,003,503

BARKER Filed April 15, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 3,008,503 BARKER Leo B. Hilhorn, St. Helen, Mich, assignor to Improved Machinery, Inc, Nashua, NJ-L, a corporation Maine Filed Apr. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 806,439 6 Claims. ((11. 144-208) This invention relates to apparatus adapted to remove the outer layers of bark and cambium layer from logs, and more particularly, to an improved, compact barking apparatus suitable for mounting on a vehicle chassis for easy transportability.

The typical log-barking apparatus is a massive device which requires a substantial foundation and often includes a complex installation. These characteristics are due to the usual requirement that the barking device must be capable of handling logs of various diameters and lengths and musthave the power necessary to drive the cutter elements and the log relative to one another for removing the outer bark layers in an expeditious and satisfactory manner. The most common types of barking machines are those in which the logs are fed endwise into the apparatus and past a plurality of revolving bark removing elements which strip the bark from the log as it is moved past them. A difficult problem involved in this type of apparatus relates to the design of an alignment mechanism adequate to insure that the log is properly centered relative to the cutter elements. Another problem in- United States Patent 0 ice y 3,008,503 Patented Nov. l4, 1961,

ing the layer of bark in a more thorough and expeditious manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a versatile log-barking apparatus incorporating features which enable substantial savings in manufacturing operation so that the apparatus may be manufactured economically: and sold competitively. Still another object of the invention is to provide, in abark-rernoving apparatus of the side-feed type, an improved log-handling mechanism, and more particularly, a novel ejector structure capable of removing the logs from the barking apparatus after they have been peeled and which may be controlled from a remote point.

a The bark-removing apparatus, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, includes two substantially parallel opposed rows of bark-removing cutters. These cutters are positioned Within a compact frame suitable for mounting on a truck or trailer chassis. Rotatably driven log-supporting and clamping roll structures are secured to the frame and positioned generally parallel to the cutter elements. A log is introduced from the side, clamped in position on the log-supporting rolls by an overlying clamping roll element which ishydraulic'ally controlled. The cooperating supporting rolls and clampvolves the necessity of securely gripping and continuously feeding the log past the cutters in this endwise manner; My improved bark-peeling machine, described in US.

Patent 2,698,036, is, in contrast, of the side-feed type i logs from the apparatus.

ccordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved side-feed log-barking apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact barking apparatus which may be suitable for mounting on a truck or trailer chassis for portable operation and which is capable of being operated by a single individual.

Another object of the invention is to provide a securelog-clarnping device suitable for use with a side-feed barkremoving apparatus.

Still another object of this invention isto provide an improved bark-peeling cutter which is positively driven by a plurality of flexible belts and in which the cutter head, as Well as being mounted for bodily movement in a direction toward and away from the log, is also permitted to rotate through a limited arc perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the cutter head itself and of the log so that the cutter heads are each individually free to adjust themselves generally parallel to local irregularities in the surface of the log being debarked, thereby removing rolls have toothed peripheries whereby the log is securely engaged and driven. The clamping structures are mounted such that they easily accommodate irregular configurations of logs Without impairment of the secure clamping. The rotatably driven cutter elements whose positions are also hydraulically controlled, are moved into contact with a leg after it is clamped in position on the support rolls and remove the bark layer along the entire length of the log in a substantially simultaneous operation. The cutter elements are positively driven and, in addition to their bodily movement toward and away from the. log axis, are permitted a substantial degree of rotation perpendicular to the axis of the log so that local surface irregularities of the log may be accommodated, thereby removing the bark and cambium layer in an eflicient and thorough manner. Also associated with this embodiment of the invention is a novel ejector mechanism which is hydraulically operated. That mechanism comprises a log-supporting cradle and a linkage which is adapted to raise the log so that it is disengaged from the supporting rolls and then, with increasing speed, lifts the log upwardly and toward theside away from the operator so that it is discharged clear of the log-barking apparatus without additional manual assistance. The apparatus may be driven by a single gasoline or diesel engine or an electric motor and is controlled from a single point by hydraulic means so that a single operator may run the device. It is a compact, rugged apparatus which may be manufactured at relatively low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be seen as the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention progresses in conjunction with the drawings, in which: p I

FIG. 1 is a side elevation-a1 view of the log-barking apparatus according to a preferred embodiment, with a second position of certain elements being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional end elevational view of the ap paratus of FIG. 1 showing certain elements thereof and their interrelationship and the drive mechanism for- 3 the apparatus, the section being taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional side view of cutter elements associated with the illustrated embodiment, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cutter element shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a cutter element taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the cutter head and support member taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6, showing the adjustable rotatability limiting feature associated with the cutter heads;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 7 showing the cutter head rotatability adjustment in a sec- 0nd position as used for those cutter heads positioned at the ends of each row;

FIG. 9 is a semi-diagrammatic view of the log ejector mechanism utilized in the illustrated embodiment showing the components thereof in retracted position in solid lines and in an intermediate position in dotted lines; and

FIG. 10 is a semi-diagrammatic view of the ejector mechanism showing the position of the elements when the mechanism is in fully operated position.

The side-feed log-barking apparatus, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, may be understood with reference to FIGS. 1-3. The apparatus includes a frame 10 comprising two side members 12 and 14 and two end members 16 and 18. The frame members are of box construction. At the forward end of the frame is mounted a gear box 20- to which a suitable prime mover 22 is connected via a shaft 2 and coupling 26. This frame is adapted for mounting on a truck chassis, shown generally in chain line in FIG. 1, a trailer chassis, or, if desired, on permanent piers or other suitable support means.

Mounted on the side frame members are a plurality of cutter structures 28 as shown in FIG. 2 two generally parallel opposed rows. There are six lead cutter structures mounted on side member 12 and five clean-up cutter structures are mounted on side member 14. The lead and clean-up cutters are identical with one exception of the permitted depth of cut. Each cutter structure includes a longitudinally elongated cutter head 30 which carries the rotatably driven cutter elements and a cutter support 32 which is pivotably mounted on a support bracket secured to the side channel at one end and at its free end carrying said cutter head 30. The cutter support 32 is thus mounted for swinging movement about an axis generally parallel to the log so that the cutter head 30 on its free end can be moved bodily toward and away from the axis of rotation of the log and into debarking engagement with its surface. The cutter heads in each row are mounted in spaced relationship and the two rows are arranged in staggered relationship so that each clean-up cutter head is positioned in the gap between the lead cutter heads in the opposite row thereby providing an overlap so that continuous bark removal is assured. Each cutter support 32 includes a cutter head receiving portion 34 and a rearwardly extending arm 36 which cooperates with a spring 38 mounted on a shaft 40 which is square in cross-section. These springs act to bias the cutter heads 30 upwardly. Both shafts 40 carry rearwardly extending cams 42, one being associated with each arm 36 and the shafts are adapted to be rotated through an are such that the cams 42 act against the arms 36 and force of lever heads 32 downwardly. A hyd-raulic cylinder 44 and associated linkage is provided to accomplish the necessary rotation of the shafts 40.

A line shaft 46, 47 is associated with each row of cutter structures 28. These shafts are secured in suitable pillow block bearings 48 and are driven via couplings 50 from the gear box 20. Mounted on each shaft are a plurality of pulley sheaves 52, one being positioned on either side of each cutter structure. Cooperating with these sheaves are corresponding sheaves 54 mounted on either side of the cutter head and connecting V-belts 56 through tion.

which the cutter elements are rotatably driven.

Disposed between the side-frame members 12 and 14 are two sets of log-supporting and driving rolls 60 and 62. These rolls are supported respectively on the driven shaft 64 and the freely rotating shaft 66. These shafts are supported from the side-frame members by brackets 68 and 70 respectively which are bolted to those members (FIG. 3). The supporting rolls 60, 62 have toothed peripheries which are adapted to engage the log such that the latter may be securely and positively driven in rota- A single clamping roll structure comprising toothed disk-like rolls 8% and 82 which are mounted on a common shaft 84 is positioned above the frame. The vertical columns 86 and 88 are positioned at either end of the frame. Positioned within each column is a reciprocable shaft 90 of the same configuration as the column, and within the shaft a hydraulic cylinder 92 which has a piston rod 94- connected to the top flange 96 of the reciprocable shaft. Depending from each top flange 96 is a box structure 98 having a rear wall 100 to which is bolted a resilient member 102 preferably a block of rubber-like material. A longitudinal tube 104, which runs the length of the apparatus above the bark-removing elements, has end plates 106 which are bolted to the flexible member 102. Depending from the longitudinal tube 104 are support members 198 which carry bearings 110 in which the shaft 84- is supported. At one end, the shaft 84 is connected through a universal joint 112 to a telescoping drive shaft mechanism 114. The drive shaft 114 is connected through a second universal joint 116 to a drive shaft 118 emanating from gear box 20. This clamping roll structure is moved between the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 (clamped) to the position shown in dotted lines (unclamped) by the hydraulic cylinders housed in the columns 86, 88.

Extending outwardly from either side-frame is a logsupporting structure (see FIG. 2). On the infeed side of the barking apparatus the structure includes a longitudinal bar 120 which is supported from the side-frame by vertical members 122, 124, 126 and 128. Extending laterally of the bar 126 and outwardly of the barking apparatus are two log-supporting guides or skids 130 and 132. Disposed on the opposite (discharge).side of the apparatus is a corresponding log support structure consisting-of longitudinal bar 134, supports 136, 138 and the lateral log-supporting guides or skids 146 and 142.

A log-ejecting mechanism consisting of two ejector cradle structures 144 and 146 is mounted within the frame 11 adjacent the discharge side. This mechanism will be described in detail subsequently.

The gear trains and various drive mechanisms utilized in the barking apparatus are shown in FIG. 3. The prime mover 22 drives the shaft 24 on which the gear 15%? is mounted. This gear 150 meshes with gear 152 to drive shaft 46 in the clockwise direction. Gear 150 also meshes with idler gear 154 which, in turn, drives gear 156 which is keyed to cutter line shaft 47. Thus shaft 47 is driven in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3. Mounted on the idler gear 154 is a sheave 160 which coacts with a V-belt 162 and idler 164 to drive the sheave 166 in the clockwise direction. The sheave 166 drives sprocket 168 via astepdown gear train comprising gears 170, 172, 174 and 176 with gear 176 being driven in the clockwise direction. The clamping roll drive shaft 118 which is connected through the universals 112 and 116 and the telescoping shaft 114 to the clamping roll shaft 84 is secured to the driven sprocket 168. The sprocket through the coaction of chain 178 and idler sprocket 189 also drives sprocket 182, which, in turn, drives the logsupporting rolls 6% in the clockwise direction. The logsupporting rolls 62 are not driven but rather rotate freely in response to the log positioned thereon.

Thus the main drive shaft drives cutter line shaft 46 in the clockwise direction and cutter line shaft 47 in the counterclockwise direction. Through a V-belt drive and a gear train, the clamping roll shaft 84 is driven in the clockwise direction. The latter drive mechanism also drives the supporting roll shaft 64 in the clockwise direction via a chain drive.

Details of the cutter structures are shown in FIGS. 4-6. The cutters in the left row, as shown in FIG. 4, are lead cutters and the cutters in the right-hand row are designated clean-up cutters. The only difference between -the two types of cutters is the depth of cut permitted. In the preferred embodiment the lead cutters may have a depth of cut of oneeighth inch or one-quarter inch depth of cut, depending upon their positioning in the cutter support structure, whereas Zero depth of cut is permitted the clean-up cutter blades. The lead cutters are designed to remove bark to the predetermined depth and the clean-up cutters complete the bark removal process in those areas between the individual lead cutters.

As the detailed structure of each type of cutter is identical with the exception of the depth of cut permitted, only the lead cutter structure is shown in detail in FIG. 4. The cutter structure includes a cutter support having a forwardly extending cylindrical apertured portion 34 and a rearwardly extending arm 36. This support is mounted on a bracket 200 which is secured to a sideframe member 12 by means of studs 262. The mounting bracket 200 has two upstanding sides 204 and 206 tenninating in ears 208 and 210 which are' bored to receive which is equal to the corresponding length of the cutter elements. The lead cutters thus have a positive depth of cut and the clean-up cutters have a zero depth of cut. These clean-up yoke surfaces, which are positioned opposite cutting elements of the lead cutters, ride on the already debarked surfaces of the log and thereby a uniform depth of cut over the entire length of the log is achieved.

Each of the individual cutter elements 236 has a fiat body portion 250 which has a cylindrical aperture and a keyway such that it is adapted to be secured to the shaft 234 (as shown in FIG. 6). Its cutting portions 252 are positioned at 90. to the body portion 250 and are shaped to the desired chisel point or other cutting configuration for the desired type of bark removal. Each cutter edge surface is parallel to the axis of the shaft and they are all of the same distance from the shaft. The cutter elements are spaced at 36 intervals about the shaft and are separated along the shaft by appropriate spacers 254 (FIG. 5). Thus a smooth continuous bark removing operation is enabled.

The cylindrical portion 230' of the cutter head is adapted to be received within the tubular portion 34 of the support structure 32. An adjustment of the position of the cutter head with respect to the tubular portion 34 is provided by the stud 260 and cooperating nut 262 mounted at the end of the tube.

The cutter head yoke also includes flanged portions 7 264 and 266 positioned on either side of and adjacent the stub shafts 212 and 214 respectively. These stub shafts define a pivot point about which the support structure is permitted to rotate. The support structure is mounted on those stub shafts so that the cylindrical portion 34 extends forwardly of the pivot point and the arm 36 extends rearwardly thereof. Cooperating with the rearwardly extending arm are two springs 38 which are positioned over the square shaft 40. One end 216 of each spring is positioned against the mounting bracket and the other end 218 is hooked over the rearward portion of the arm 36, thereby tending to bias the arm portion of,

the support structure downwardly. This downward movement of the arm is limited by individual cams 42 mounted on the square shaft 4% which define a stop. These cams also are adapted to rotate with the shaft it), thereby raising the arm 36 so that the support structure is rotated about its pivot point to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. This movement of the square shaft 46 is produced by the hydraulic cylinder 44 whose piston rod 222 is connected through linkage 224 to the shaft 40.

The cutter head frame includes a cylindrical portion 230 adapted to cooperate with the tubular portion 34 of the lever structure, and a yoke portion 232 adapted to carry a shaft 234 on which a plurality of cutter elements 236 are mounted. Sheaves 54 are mounted on the outer ends of the shaft beyond the yoke portions. The forwardly extending flange portions of the yoke include enlarged central portions adapted to receive ball bearing structures which support the shaft 234 for rotation. The yoke flange portions serve'to limit the depth of cut permitted the associated cutting elements 236. The yoke flanges 238 of the lead cutter structure have peripheral surfaces of two different radii. One radius (of surface 24%)) is one-eighth inch less than the corresponding radial length of the cutter elements 236 and the other radius (of surface 242) is one-quarter inch less than the radial length of the cutter element. In the position shown in FIG. 4, the lead cutter is adjustedly mounted so that the cutters are set for a one-quarter inch depth of cut. This depth of cut may be adjusted easily by merely turning the cutter head over. This is possible as in all other respects the cutter head is completely symmetrical. The yoke flanges 244 of the clean-up cutter, on the other hand, have peripheral surfaces 246 of a constant dimension cylindrical portion 23%. Mounted on these flanged portions are studs 268 and 27 8 respectively which are locked in position by nuts 272 and 274 respectively. These studs are adapted to coact with an overlying extension 276 of the tubular portion 34, as best shown in FIGS. 7-8. In FIG. 7, the studs 268 and 270 are positioned at equal heights and thus rotation of the cutter head about the axis of the cylindrical portion 230 perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the cutter head itself and of the log is permitted through an equal arc in either direction. This construction permits a sufficient flexibility of the cutter head positioning relative to the log for tho-rough removal of the bark and other undesired material from logs even though the logs may have surface protuberances or other irregularities the axis of pivotal movement of the head being thus free automatically to adjust itself to a position with its cutting elements in contact with said log and with its surface generally parallel to local irregularities in the log surface. The extent of rotation permitted with the studs adjusted as shown in FIG. 7 is indicated by the dotted lines. The adjustment shown in FIG. 8 is preferred for those cutter heads that are mounted at the ends of either row. In such case, the inside stud, that is, stud 268 in the illustration, is positioned in contac-t'with the flange 276' so that the cutter head is not permitted to rotate beyond the horizontal in the outside direction. This is necessary to prevent any tendency of those cutter heads to rock over the end of the log, thereby cham-fering the end surface and impairing the valuable heart wood. The outside stud 276 is adjusted to the same height as the studs shown in FIG. 7, thus permitting rotation of the cutter head through an angle of about 15 in the inside direction.

The cutter blades are driven by two \I-belts 56 which connect the sheaves 54 mounted on the cutter shaft 234 with the corresponding sheaves 52 mounted on the line shaft 46. This construction provides multiple individual drives for each cutter element while permitting a certain limited degree of rotation of the cutter elements about the axis of the cylindrical portion 23% together with a restoring force created by the drive belts. Adjustment of the desired tension in the V-belts 56 is achieved by the stud 260' and its cooperating lock nut 262.

,The log ejector mechanism is shown in the semidiagrammatic views of FIGS. 9 and 10 and in its position relative to other portions of the barking ap'paratusis indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The log ejection mechanism includes two cradle members 144 and 146 disposed betweenthe log-supporting rolls which are adapted to be moved upwardly to lift a log which has been debarked off of the supporting rolls and then, with increasing speed, to deliver the peeled log onto the log discharge skids. The log cradle member 144 is positioned normally below and out of contact with a log but is adapted to contact a log adjacent the one free end of said member. It has as its opposite end an integral arm 3%; The other end of arm 3% remote from cradle 144 is secured at a pivot to one end of a C-shaped and supporting and operating link 302 by pivot pin 3% and the opposite end of the C- shaped link 302 is pinned to a fixed pivot point associated with the side-frame member 14 by pin 306. A central supporting link member 393 is connected to arm 11% at an intermediate pivot point in craddle member 144 by pin 316 and its opposite end is pivotally secured to the fixed shaft 66 providing a fixed pivot point. The other cradle member 146 has an identical supporting and operating linkage. Associated with both cradle members is a hydraulic cylinder 312 which is supported by a ring 314 and an arm 3'16 which extends from the side-frame member 14. The piston rod 318 of the cylinder 312 is secured to a cross member 320 which pivotally connects the two corresponding C-shaped link members associated with the ejector cradle members 144 and 146 at a point adjacent their end pivot points. The ejector mechanism is shown in retracted position in FIG. 9 in solid lines. Operation of the hydraulic cylinder 312 drives the piston rod 318 outwardly and pivots the C-shaped link members 3M downwardly about the fixed pivot points 3%. The initial operation of the hydraulic cylinder moves the pins 364 from the position shown in solid lines toward the dotted line position. This moves the cradles to the left (into position under the log) and gradually upwardly to disengage the log from the toothed periphery of the logsupporting rolls 60, 62. Further outward movement of the piston rod 318 continues the movement of the C- shaped link member 3G2 downwardly to the position as shown in FIG. 10. This movement of the piston rod is through a comparatively short distance but the cradle portions are moved rapidly from a substantially horizontal position shown in the dotted lines in FIG. 9 to the vertical position shown in FIG. 10. It is to be noted that initially the central supporting links 3&8 were moved to the left and subsequently to the right. This rapid movement of the cradle portions throws the peeled log upwardly and outwardly of the barking apparatus so that it is discharged entirely clear of the apparatus. When the ejector mechanism has been retracted another log may be moved into position on the log-supporting rolls.

A control station preferably is provided adjacent the gear box 20 on the input side of the barking machine. From that point a single operator may control the feed of logs to the apparatus and once positioned on the supporting rolls all further operations are hydraulically controlled.

In operation, a Ilog is rolled over the feed skids 130, 132 onto the log-supporting rolls 6t 62 which are rotating at a comparatively slow speed. The log-clamping rolls 80, 82 then are lowered under hydraulic control of cylinders 92 so that the log L is secured between the two supporting roll structures and the clamping roll structure. The hydraulic cylinders 44 are then operated to rotate the square shafts 40, thereby raising the cutter heads 34 and rapidly revolving cutter elements 236 into engagement with the bark surface of the log. The cutter heads are driven at a much higher speed than the log-supporting rolls and the entire undesired layer of bark on the log is removed in just slightly more than one revolution of the log as driven by the log-supporting and clamping rolls. When the log has been peeled, the cutting heads are retracted by operation of the cylinders 44, the log-clamping structure is raised by operation of cylinders 92 and the log-ejector mechanism is operated by cylinder 312 to disengage the log from the supporting rolls and to throw it outwardly on the discharge side of the apparatus. The ejector mechanism is then retracted and the apparatus is ready for the next log to be fed in and positioned on the supporting rolls.

Thus the invention provides an improved side-feed barking apparatus which is compact and comparatively low in cost. It is suitable for mounting on a trailer or truck chassis, if desired, and may be operated easily by a single individual. The log is clamped securely within the apparatus, provision being made for certain normal irregularities in the configuration and shape of the log, and the cutters are designed so that they will conform to those surface irregularities that commonly occur in logs. Substantially an of the cutter elements are completely interchangeable thus facilitating maintenance and lowering the production cost of those items. The cutter elements are designed to produce a rapid and eificient removal of the bark and cambium layer. When the log is completely peeled, the novel ejector mechanism is openated to discharge the log to the side opposite the feed such that a smooth production process may be easily accommodated.

It will be seen by those skilled in the art that the invention provides substantial improvements in the sidefeed barking apparatuses. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited thereto or to details thereof and departures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A log-barking machine comprising a frame, a pair of support rolls mounted within said frame adapted to rotatably support, from beneath, for rotation, a log posi-- tioned thereon, log clamping means mounted above said support rolls adapted to clamp a log against said support rolls, said clamping means including a shaft having a pair of spaced disk-like rolls mounted for rotation therewith for contacting a log at two spaced portions thereof, a shaft support positioned at either end of said frame having resilient means connecting said support with said shaft adapted to permit angular adjustment of the shaft axis in conformity with the surface configuration of a log to be debarked, and power means for independently urging said shaft supports downwardly to clamp a log.

2. A log barking machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient means includes a block of rubber-like material distortable to permit said angular adjustment.

3. A log. barking machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein power means are provided for rotating said shaft to rotate a log clamped on said support rolls.

4. A log barking machine comprising a frame, a pair of support rolls mounted within said frame adapted rotatably to support from beneath for rotation a log positioned thereon, and a log ejector mechanism positioned ad acent said support rolls normally below and out of contact with a log on said support rolls, said mechanism comprising an elongated log cradle member having a free end adapted to contact a log adjacent said free end and supporting and operating linkage therefor including an arm integral with and forming the other end of said cradle member opposite from said free end, a supporting and operating link pinned at its'o-ne end to said arm adjacent the end thereof opposite said free end contacting a log and secured at the opposite end of said supporting and operating link to a first fixed pivot point, a central supporting link secured between a second fixed pivot point and a pivot point intermediate the ends on said cradle member, and means to rotate one of said links about its pivot point to swing said cradle upwardly and to one side to discharge a log. t

S. A log barking machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means to rotate said one link includes piston and cylinder means pivotally connected to said one iink at a point intermediate its end pivotal connections.

6. A log-barking machine comprising a frame, support means mounted within said frame adapted to rotate a log positioned thereon, a plurality of bark-removing cutters mounted on said frame aligned in two parallel opposed rows, means for biasing said cutters into contact with said log for removing bark therefrom, a log-clamping r011 structure mounted above said support means adapted securely to position said log on said support means, and a log ejector mechanism positioned adjacent said support means normally below and out of contact with a log, said mechanism comprising an elongated log cradle member having a free end adapted to contact a log adjacent said free end and supporting and operating linkage therefor including anarm integral with and forming the other end of said cradle member opposite from said free end, an end supporting and operating link pinned at its one end to said arm adjacent the end thereof opposite said free end contacting a log and secured at the opposite end of said supporting and operating link to a first fixed pivot point, a central supporting link secured between a second fixed pivot point and a pivot point intermediate the ends on said cradle member, and means to rotate said 10 supporting and operating link such that said cradle is adapted to be swung upwardly and to one side to discharge a log from said machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 593,897 Jones Nov. 16, 1897 1,277,808 Witham .Q Sept. 3, 1918 1,379,768 Larson May 31, 1921 1,405,930 McGrath Feb. 7, 1923 1,881,465 Ganes et a1 Oct. 11, 1932 2,608,224 Ekiund et a1. Aug. 26, 1952 2,681,670 Prentice June 22, 1954 2,698,036 Hilborn Dec. 28, 1954 2,795,320 Dillingham June 11, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 118,604 Sweden Apr. 15, 1947 1,120,218 France Apr. 16, 1956 765,038 Great Britain Jan. 2, 1957 

